Anti-bullying forum and basketball tournament held at Carver Middle School

TULSA, Okla. — On the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, community leaders in north Tulsa held a special basketball event teaching children about leadership and the dangers of bullying.

The people behind the tournament said they hope it continued and honored King’s legacy of love and acceptance.

12-year-old Olin Wallace is in the sixth grade at Carver Middle School. He is one of around 50 kids who played in special basketball tournament on Saturday, bringing the community together to teacher leadership skills and anti-bullying.

“If you don’t have anything to say nice about someone don’t say it, just keep it to yourself and try to be positive,” Wallace said.

It’s the seventh year of the event and the first time they’ve held it after a two year break because of COVID.

Kevin Williams, the athletic director at Carver Middle School said they wanted to support King’s dream.

“To bridge the gap and to bring all nationalities together as was his vision, his dream, that all men are created equal and so we just want to support that dream and be able to show that we can come together in a positive light and do it together,” he said.

The tournament was followed by a special forum teaching kids about the dangers of bullying.

The event was organized by Fred Jones, the executive director of the group One Tulsa. He said he hopes to help the kids become leaders in the community.

“Hopefully one of those kids that we’ve talked to, what we’ve said, helped that kid to advance themselves and become a better productive citizen in life,” he said.

Former NFL Executive Gut Troupe spoke at the anti-bullying forum. He said sportsmanship is important.

“Athletes in particular are trained to be aggressive, so what we’re trying to teach here is that there’s a time to be aggressive in career, in business, and on the court and academics and athletics, and there’s a time to reel that in and become more loving, more community oriented, more in line with the non-violent traditions of MLK,” he said.

The kids learned about thankfulness, support, leadership and friendship.

Wallace said they hope to honor King’s legacy in life and sport.

“Bullying is not right it should not be happening and he was a help to put a stop to that,” he said.

The people behind the event said they hope they’re helping to shape some of the next big sports stars and community leaders and teaching respect, on and off the court, is fundamental to that.

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Anti-bullying forum and basketball tournament held at Carver Middle School

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